Seventh-year Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic has been widely predicted to reunite with Daniel Gafford, his former teammate on the Dallas Mavericks, at some point before the Feb. 5 NBA trade deadline.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel first reported that the Lakers will pursue Gafford to shore up their depth at the center position behind Deandre Ayton.
“….One of the teams with strong interest in Gafford dating back to last season is the Los Angeles Lakers, sources said,” Siegel reported on Nov. 7. “Could we see a reunion between Luka Doncic and Gafford in Los Angeles in February?”
Subsequently, several analysts and fans urged the Lakers to pursue Gafford, given the big man’s proven chemistry with Doncic. After all, Gafford was a key piece of the Mavericks team that made it to the 2024 NBA Finals, averaging 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks through 22 postseason games a few seasons ago.
Lakers Could Pursue Gafford
The Smoking Cuban’s Noah Weber believes Mavs fans will be sent into further heartbreak if the Nico Harrison-led front office trades Gafford to the Lakers, less than a year after the infamous Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis transaction.
“Seeing him join Doncic once again would break Mavericks fans to the core, but this has seemed like a realistic option for months due to Gafford’s dynamic with Doncic, as well as the Lakers’ team needs,” wrote Weber.
“Los Angeles has gotten great production out of Deandre Ayton, but bringing in Gafford would be a major upgrade over Jaxson Hayes. Gafford and Doncic’s bond is no secret, as Gafford was interested in teaming up with Doncic on Team Slovenia, and while Gafford being traded to the Lakers may be the perfect trade for them, it would be the worst move for Mavericks fans’ well-being.”
Mavericks Not Interested?
The writer pointed out how Gafford, averaging 8.8 points and 4.4 rebounds this season, has become highly ineffectual in a Mavericks team lacking a true floor general. The Mavs own the NBA’s 29th-ranked offense and things are unlikely to improve until the return of Kyrie Irving, who remains sidelined with an ACL injury.
On paper, it makes sense for the Mavericks to explore a Gafford trade, given their front-court depth of Derek Lively II, Anthony Davis and Dwight Powell, not to mention P.J. Washington and Cooper Flagg’s size advantage on the wings. However, the Mavericks reportedly may not be keen on parting with Gafford.
Over the weekend, NBA insider Marc Stein poured cold water on reports of a possible reunion between Doncic and Gafford, citing Lively’s knee injury.
“External interest in Gafford is sure to surface, league sources say, but the Mavericks to this point have not entertained the idea of trading him,” Stein wrote in his Substack.
“How could they, with Dereck Lively II, their would-be center of the future, limited to just three games played thus far due to a knee sprain?”
The Lakers own only one tradeable first-round pick, but have the expiring contracts of Gabe Vincent, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes and Maxi Kleber that can be used in trades. Furthermore, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Khnect can also be used as trade chips ahead of the Feb. deadline.
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